by RainBird

Created on: February 27, 2007   Last Updated: May 06, 2007

At my job as a cashier in a local retail grocery store, I spend anywhere from 5 to 8 hours a day, standing at my assigned register, ringing up customer's grocery orders, unless, of course, I am on break and then I am definitely either in the breakroom or, if it is a nice day, outside enjoying a few minutes of fresh air. At least once a day, but often more than that, while I am standing at my register awaiting the next order, I am approached by a customer who will ask me,

"Are you open?"

Now for what other reason would I be standing there in front of a cash register, in uniform, register light on, staring at you unless my lane was open and I was working? Come on, I am not standing there for my health and I definitely am not being paid to stand there at that register to watch customers walk past. I am quite sure that should I answer "No" to that question I would have a irate customer standing before me wanting to know why I was standing there, in uniform, with my register light on, at a closed lane. The bosses would be down in no time, wanting to know the same thing and I would be expecting to be called to the office to answer that question. Anyone who shops at our store on a regular basis has surely seen the large white plastic sign with big red letters that say "CLOSED" that usually sits near the end of our lane which should be a sure signification of the lane's availability. Absent that sign and having a cashier, in uniform, standing there should be a great indicator that the lane is open and he or she is awaiting your arrival with all of your purchases. Are you ready for your order to be checked out?

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